Does anyone know anything about relicing?

[Chistopher]

There isn't a single good thread on the whole internet about how to properly relic a guitar, and the same goes for YouTube videos. The only good YouTube video on the subject is for a guy who wants to make the guitar look like it's only about 20 years old, I'm looking to make my guitar in question look like it's been a workhorse since the 80s.

Any tips, tricks, or methods that any of you particularly like?

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

I sand the finish off my necks because I like how it feels. It also usually means the neck ends up looking worn more quickly.

Someone on here a long time ago put a Les Paul out in really cold weather then brought it inside to check the finish.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

Look at where your arm comes across
Where your belt buckle would hit
Just under the strings where you might anchor a pinky
Where ever your hand would rest
Clothes would rub

This would be where the finish needs wear
Back of the neck
Scale spots on the fretboard under the high strings

If it has horns there should be dings
Also around strap buttons

Where the body rest on the stand

Start there

 

[Aceman]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

Less of a science and more of an art I think. I did this:

Started out -

After -

 

[Aceman]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

My other was aged by a guy called Murphy for Gibson....

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

I think a lot of folks go way overboard with *how much* they relic a guitar when they go about a project like this.

I'll take pics of my 81 Hamer and my '77 Strat (which belonged to a gigging musician since new) later today. You'd be surprised at how little wear those two guitars have.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

Usually, less is more. There are very few old instruments with massive chunks of paint missing like most relics would have you think.

Second....never attempt on poly unless you're really good.....even that one pictured above looks like its been attacked with a belt sander - and thats come out better than most. Similarly aging Maple fretboards is a skill only for the expert.

3rd.....actually look at old guitars for inspiration.....not the SRV/Rory Gallagher example though. But instruments that have been used but looked after. There is a reason the chips and dents happen where they do.

Tarnishing hardware is easy in acid fumes, and does most of what you want to see. The rest after that can be subtle.

You can get nitro to check with repeated trips to the deep freeze.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

Do you want it reliced for the look, feel or both?

 

[mojosman]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

For chrome and nickel parts I’ve used PC board etching solution. I bought it at radio shack, which may not be a option anymore. If you can find it, you can hit these parts with a bit of steel wool then soak them in a plastic a bowl (outside). The results are pretty good.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

Do you want it reliced for the look, feel or both?

I've already managed to give the guitar a worn in feel to it, I'm talking about aethetic. I'm mostly going for the "ragged old flag" look.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

What is the guitar in question? That will make the results vary. Most people seem to use vinegar and salt to age hardware. I'm currently using it to encourage some greening on a goldtop with minimal success, but it's only been one day.

Sent from my LG-H931 using Tapatalk

 

[AlexR]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

^ If you're only using it on the clear then you'll be waiting forever. You need to have it on the bronze flakes......which are in the first layer of finish applied and buried under the whole depth of the clearcoat.

 

[dave74]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

Most people seem to use vinegar and salt to age hardware. I'm currently using it to encourage some greening on a goldtop with minimal success, but it's only been one day.

pee is the key

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

I’ve never understood why someone would purposely do this to a guitar.

 

[StoRMiE]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

I age all my covers and such by sticking the guitar in direct sunlight. You can get it to happen faster with UV lights. As for the dings I have 50 year old guitars without a scratch, if you want it to look legitimate just put it on a strap and go accidentally walk it into door frames and furniture a few times and then pick at the finish with an X-acto blade.

The only guy I know of with something old that appears to be "reliced" rode his bass down the stairs once a week, but to each their own.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

If you want it to look legit, maybe try playing the crap out of it for 10 years.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

If you want it to look legit, maybe try playing the crap out of it for 10 years.

The problem with this argument is that modern poly finished guitars will never look anywhere remotely like an old nitro finished guitar. So unless it’s a Gibson or CS Fender (or small luthier that shoots nitro) it’s not really going to age.

My main gigging bass is/was a MIM Jazz, and I have two MIA Strats that were played heavily (one by me, one by previous owner and me) and other than surface scratches and dings, from ten feet they look new.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

pee is the key

Haven't gotten that desperate yet, but time will tell.

^ If you're only using it on the clear then you'll be waiting forever. You need to have it on the bronze flakes......which are in the first layer of finish applied and buried under the whole depth of the clearcoat.

Yeah, I'm hitting it in places where the clear coat is compromised. There's a bit of the clear and gold receding on the lower bout and it also has slight checking. I saw a bit of oxidation there and want to confirm that it can turn green. Looks like it might be able to.

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[AlexR]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

I’ve never understood why someone would purposely do this to a guitar.

Because you like the look.
Same as putting off white, mint or cream plastics on your strat, buying a maple neck with vintage tinted clear..........or getting any burst colour from Gibson like Teaburst, lightburst, dirty lemon etc. They are all looks based off old guitars that people want immediately without the hassle of waiting 40-odd years for it to happen naturally.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Does anyone know anything about relicing?

Less is more.

3rd.....actually look at old guitars for inspiration. There is a reason the chips and dents happen where they do.

This.

I really dig the look of relic guitars but a lot of them are way over done.